Kidney doctors in Derry, New Hampshire
We offer guidance on proper kidney function so you can maintain long-term health.
Your kidneys are essential in removing bodily waste, controlling blood pressure and keeping your bones healthy. At Parkland Medical Center, our nephrologists understand this, and offer comprehensive kidney care, such as dialysis and minimally invasive surgery.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Free health-related advice is just a phone call away. Our licensed nurses will help you understand your symptoms, answer health-related questions, and navigate where to seek care.
Kidney conditions we treat
Our compassionate physicians diagnose and treat a variety of kidney conditions, including:
- Kidney disease
- Kidney stones
- Renal cancer
Kidney treatments we offer
Your care team will work with you to help improve your short- and long-term kidney health.
Kidney disease
If you have chronic kidney disease, your kidneys may not be filtering blood correctly. This is often caused by diabetes and high blood pressure, but infections, inherited diseases and injuries can also lead to kidney disease.
For treatment, our nephrologists may prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure and control blood glucose levels. However, in some instances, surgery may be required. If so, we prioritize the use of minimally invasive surgical procedures, such as robot-assisted surgery.
Kidney failure
Kidney disease can lead to kidney failure, which occurs when your kidneys stop working altogether. Treatment options include:
- Dialysis
- Kidney removal
- Kidney transplant
Kidney care
Our expert physicians analyze your kidney function and identify lifestyle factors that could be leading to problems, before recommending steps to improve your overall health. These may include:
- Eating low-sodium foods
- Keeping your blood sucrose in the target range
- Managing your blood pressure
- Tracking your blood sugar
Your treatment plan may also include ongoing, collaborative work in managing the following areas:
- Bone and mineral dialysis
- Diabetes
- Electrolytes
- Glomerular diseases
- Gout
- Hypertension
- Nutrition
Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard, calcium-based deposits that form in your kidneys. You may not realize you have kidney stones until you experience pain passing one, or passing pieces of one, through your urine.
Risk factors for kidney stones
Kidney stones are more likely to develop in people who:
- Don’t drink enough fluids
- Eat foods with high levels of animal protein
- Have had gastric bypass or a banding-type of bariatric surgery
- Have medical conditions, such as Crohn’s disease, gout, hyperactive thyroid or chronic diarrhea
- Take too much or too little calcium
Kidney stone symptoms
There are often some signs of a kidney stone, including:
- Blood in urine
- Fever
- Intense back pain
- Severe abdominal pain
- Shaking chills
Kidney stone diagnosis
To diagnose kidney stones, we use imaging scans, such as an ultrasound or X-ray. If you've experienced multiple kidney stones, your urologist may recommend additional tests to fully assess your situation. We can also analyze components of your blood and urine to identify and treat abnormalities before they lead to more serious complications.
Kidney stone treatment
Your nephrologist, urologic care specialist and primary care physician may collaborate to treat you for kidney stones. This treatment may include:
- Avoiding certain foods
- Drinking more fluids
- Taking medications that can dissolve kidney stones
- Taking medications that speed the passing of kidney stones
If a large stone is creating a blockage, we can prescribe pain medications. For serious cases, such as a urinary blockage accompanied by a urinary infection, immediate medical care may be necessary. Minimally invasive options to treat kidney stones include:
- Shock wave lithotripsy — Requiring no incision and only a mild anesthetic, this outpatient procedure uses sound waves to break the stone into small pieces.
- Stent — In this procedure, a long, flexible tube is placed into the ureter to temporarily dislodge the blockage while a stent relieves pain, supports drainage and allows urine to flow.
- Ureteroscopy — Performed with general anesthesia, this no-incision procedure uses a fiber-optic laser to fragment the stone.
Renal cancer
With leading-edge technology and the latest research, our kidney specialists perform advanced cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. We also offer a number of cancer care resources for you and your loved ones, including access to oncology nurse navigators and outpatient rehabilitation services.